Two (2) Hepatitis A Cases Confirmed in Hamilton Residents
- January 1, 2015

Press Conference for Community and Media to be Held on
Friday, January 2, 2015

The Hamilton Township Division of
Health has been informed of two (2) additional Hepatitis A cases which were
confirmed over the New Year’s holiday.

In the first additional case (second case in community), the Hamilton
Township Division of Health was informed by Robert Wood Johnson Hospital -
Hamilton and the New Jersey Department of Health late on December 31, 2014,
that a case of Hepatitis A was confirmed in an employee of The Hair Port Salon,
located at 3144 South Broad Street in Hamilton Township, N.J. This employee has been released from the
hospital and is presently recovering at home.

Hamilton Township Health
officials warn that all staff members and patrons of this establishment who visited
the salon from December 4, 2014 to December 31, 2014 may be at risk for
developing Hepatitis A if they have not been previously vaccinated with the
Hepatitis A vaccine. Unvaccinated
individuals who have visited the salon during the above time period should
receive an injection of immune globulin or Hepatitis A vaccine as soon as
possible. Unvaccinated Hamilton Township residents should contact their primary
care provider or the Hamilton Township Division of Health at 609-890-3884 for
more information and direction.

Residents from other communities should contact their primary care
provider or their local community Division of Health.

In the second additional case (third case in community), the Hamilton
Township Division of Health was informed by the New Jersey Department of Health
on January 1, 2015, that a case of Hepatitis A was confirmed in a part-time
fitness instructor at the Hamilton Area YMCA’s JKR Branch located at 1315
Whitehorse-Mercerville Road in Hamilton Township, N.J. This instructor also serves at a fitness
instructor at the New Jersey Athletic Club, located at 4152 Quakerbridge Road
in Lawrenceville, NJ, and is also an employee of the Mercer County Board of
Social Services, located at 200 Woolverton Street in Trenton, NJ. This fitness instructor is presently
recovering at home.

Hamilton Township Health
officials warn that all staff members and patrons who visited the Hamilton Area
YMCA’s JKR Branch, the New Jersey Athletic Club in Lawrenceville or the Mercer
County Board of Social Services in Trenton from December 5, 2014 to December
29, 2014 may be at risk for developing Hepatitis A if they have not been
previously vaccinated with the Hepatitis A vaccine. Unvaccinated
Hamilton Township residents should contact their primary care provider or the
Hamilton Township Division of Health at 609-890-3884 for more information and
direction. Residents from other
communities should contact their primary care provider or their local community
Division of Health.

During routine questioning by
Hamilton Township Health officials it was confirmed that both individuals in
these two additional cases had eaten at or from Rosa’s Restaurant and Catering
located at 3442 South Broad St, Hamilton Township, NJ, during the first
confirmed Hepatitis A case in November.
Hamilton Township’s Division of Health cannot say with any certainty that the two additional cases were a
direct result from the original infection/case.

Hamilton Township Division of
Health officials and personnel will be available for Hamilton residents who
contact the Division of Health tomorrow (January 2, 2015) by calling 609-890-3884 (from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).

The early signs and symptoms of
Hepatitis A appear 2-6 weeks after exposure and commonly include the following:

Mild fever

Loss of appetite

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

/ “Clay-colored” stool

Tiredness

Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen under the rib cage

Dark urine and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin)

Additional information regarding
Hepatitis A can be viewed at the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/ChooseA.htm

The disease varies in severity,
with mild cases lasting two weeks or less and the more severe cases lasting 4-6
weeks or longer. However, even persons with mild symptoms can be highly
infectious. Persons with symptoms suggestive of Hepatitis A should consult a
physician even if symptoms are mild.

Hamilton Township will post any
further updates on the Hamilton Township website (www.HamiltonNJ.com) and on
its social media sites to keep residents informed.